Who was Harriet Bosse and how did she influence August Strindberg's work?

Harriet Bosse was a young Norwegian actress whom August Strindberg married in 1901. Their relationship, which Strindberg referred to as a "spring in winter," was relatively brief, as the couple parted in 1904.1

Despite the eventual separation, this marriage served as a significant creative catalyst for Strindberg. Bosse’s influence is evident in several of his notable works from that period, including the plays The Dance of Death and A Dream Play, as well as his autobiography Ensam ("Alone") and various lyrical poems. However, the bitterness that followed their parting also provoked him to write the satirical novel Svarta Fanor ("Black Banners"), in which he attacked the literary circles of Stockholm.1